Where Did That Week Go?

                                                                     Our ball player!

                           I wish I knew where the days went and how they go by so, so fast! Whew! It has been a week since I last posted and I have, as usual, been an awful visitor. I am always truly grateful that so many of yo stop by and say hello even when I seem lax at making my blog rounds! Bless yor hearts, I love you all!

       So, where did that last week go? It flew by in a cloud of softball games, a concert, a funbdraiser,   2 celebrations, every day errands and housework and, well, life! I know you all understand how that goes!

 

One evening our family took a little drive to enjoy the sunshine and sweet Spring temperatures. We ended up near Cincinnati and the Brazenhead Pub so we stopped in for dinner. I love this place...so much like a *real* English or Irish pub. Well, at least it is similar to some of the ones I was in!

                                                And yes, my brother does make silly faces...a lot!

This was so good! Grilled chicken and ratatouille! Yes! Ratatouille! A delicious French peasant dish, also a movie...an animated Pixar movie featuring the voice of one Brian Dennehy as Django the rat...but I digress. Ahem...

And we celebrated Bill's birthday! Uh huh,my handsome husband turned 54!

His party request? All the family over for chili, cornbread, salad and cake!

He got lots of gifts...

...and lots of cake

Yes, Kipper IS thinking, "Drop it...drop it...drop it pleeeeaaase!"

Oh, and uh huh. Kip IS sporting a banana sticker on his head. As soon as I come in from the grocery with a new bunch we KNOW Danny will be putting the stickers on Kip! It is THEIR little game...: )

On Mother's Day morning our knock out roses began blooming! What a pretty sight!

We enjoyed church and a nice drive then headed downtown to the Oregon District in Dayton.

                                               We enjoyed a fantastic seafood brunch at Jay's.

Parmesan encrusted Haddock...can you say Mmmmmm?

The 2 reasons I am such a proud mom, Dan and Grace.

They are posing here with their Grandma, my lovely mom, Miriam.

The kids and the moms...that's me on the right. The chubby blonde with the wild hair!

And then...well, I don't want to bore you more than I already have so I will stop for now!

I will work at hoppin' 'round to see all of you during the next few days.

Enjoy the rest of your week...

Love to you all!

                                                                                
  

A Little Of This And A Lot Of That...

Recently we enjoyed the annual Fine Arts Night at Grace's school. It's one of my favorite events of the year...a celebration of all manner of art forms! There is sweet orchestrial music, lively choral song and displays of interesting and beautiful art work. Wow are these kids talented!

Why here is one of the pretty violinists!

Each year the 4th grade students visit a glass blowing studio and are able to learn about this craft and experience it first hand. There is always a raffle for the 3 blown glass bowls that the artist generously donates to help the art department raise the monies for the annual trip to his studio.

Here are the principal and art teacher announcing one of the winners...

See the lovely bowl in the middle? I won that one! Uh huh. I did!

Here is Grace with her talented strings instructor!

Last weekend we were invited to share in the joy of a 1st Communion.

This precious little girl with Grace is the grandaughter of dear, dear friends. Isn't she a doll?

                Later that evening we headed down to The Schuster Center For The Performing Arts to

 see "A Chorus Line".

I love shooting pictires there...it is such a beautiful place.

I think I know these two ladies!

Our star player!

      Then, of course, it's softball season! And with that  comes  practices, practices and more practices!

The first game was tonight and I will share some more photos with you later...oh but, here's a hint.

Our team did NOT lose! *smile*

This is a photo I wanted to share with you. It's our neighborhood, near our little cottage.

Each yard has at least one beautiful flowering tree and they also line the street as well. They surely do put on a show each Spring! The last of the blooms are only now disappearing in a swirl of greens!

It has been such a sweet Spring this year...

It's All Over And *I* Didn't Even Sing...

Hey, it WAS hot ya know! Grace at third waiting to be brought home...

*Smack*

The team...Grace is 4th from the right.

Our own MVP

...uh huh. The fat lady must have been singin' 'cause Grace's softball season came to an end late Saturday afternoon. It came during the second round of tourney play and wow. It was a real heart breaker at the end...7-8. But the girls played hard and well, were great sports and had so much fun. They learned a lot this season and worked together as a team and as friends. It doesn't get better than that!

There will be a cook out for the team this Saturday, to celebrate their season and get together again. We all look forward to that!

I hope you all had a sweet weekend and that all the dads in your lives were treated well!

Have a wonderful week...stay cool and smile a lot! Life is such a precious gift!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

"I'm Ready To Play..."

"....today; put me in coach, I'm ready to play today; look at me, I can be centerfield"...

...um...wait....catcher? Oh! Catcher!

So I tweaked John Fogerty's lyrics a wee bit...just a bit!

Our girl with her BFF and her BFF's dad...the Coach!

She is good as catcher, the coach wants her to be

catcher but she HATES being catcher. *laugh*

"Well beat the drums and hold the phone the sun came out today-

we're born again, there's new grass on the field.

A-roundin' third and headed for home, it's a brown eyed beautiful girl;

Anyone can understand the way I feel..."

Oh What A Week...

...late May back in '09, what a very special, special time, 'cause I remember what a week...to badly paraphrase Frankie Valli. It all started last Sunday after church. Mom, Bill , Grace and I went to Carillon Park, a showcase for the area's rich and varied history, in Dayton. We had lunch at Culp's Cafe a new establishment which is reminiscent of the Culp's that was a Dayton staple in the 1930's and 40's.

The food was so good...and I had a perfect Vanilla Phosphate to drink! Yum.

Just across from our table was this sweet sight...old Newcom Tavern, a true Dayton landmark. Built in 1796, it is the oldest area building still standing today.

Then it was off to Wegerzyn Gardens, part of Dayton's Metro Park system.

Wegerzyn is a 1,000 park filled with formal gardens, a children's discovery section, flowering trees and meadows.

Two pretty ladies enjoying the lovely day!

A Girl and her Dad in the shade...

The sweetest flower in all the garden...

Grace and her Dad talk strategy with Grace's BFF.

On Wednesday Grace had a practice softball game. The team uniforms had just arrived so our girls wore their regular clothes. The other team, from out of the city, had theirs on. Our girls were a little intimidated by that and the fact that this team had a roster filled with 5th graders (Our team is all 3rd and 4th graders) who have been playing awhile (our team is made up mostly of new players). Yes, they beat us handily but our girls held their own and got some valuable learning and playing experience.

My girl hits that ball...

Lands on first base...

Then steals second!

Running for home after a ball is dropped...

Grace was at catcher position in this game and her coach would love to keep here there. She was great at it! Unfortunately, SHE hates that position. *smile* But she agreed to serve as catcher for 2 innings each game so all are happy! We were also celebrating our son's "Gotcha Day". In the world of adoption, the "Gotcha Day" ranks right up there with the birthday in importance. 19 years ago our son Daniel came into our lives. We could not be more proud of him than we are...he is a wonderful son and a great big brother.

He chose Sima, a local Korean restaurant and we ate well! TOO well! *smile*

Now you can see why I am such a proud Mama...these are my treasures.

Some of our delicious Korean side dishes Last night was the year's last chorus and orchestra recital. Grace is in both so had to wear her chorus T shirt and hop back and forth between each! The kids all performed so well and it is always a joy to see the arts in action!

Grace and her BFF, Miss K. No, my girl was not wearing a huge butterfly on her shirt! I added it to cover up the name of the school...I know you will understand... : )

Tonight my mother and I are going to the Schuster Center in Dayton to listen

to the Philharmonic Orchestra's tribute to Beethoven. It should be magical....

Tomorrow is Grace's softball team's official picture day followed by their first REAL game! Should be exciting! they now have their uniforms, black and gold, a sponsor and a lot of energy!

And...*drum roll if you please* Monday is Ritter's Dog Night AND the day we celebrate our Kipper's 8th birthday! Whoo Hoo! Kip would like me to invite any of you who live in the area to meet us there...in fact, there is a certain blogger who we would be glad to take with us if she would like to go! *smile*

Yes, I WILL have pictures to share! But of course! Kip would have in to other way!

Have a sweet weekend dear friends...

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q